The $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile is year-in, year-out, one of the most anticipated races on the road to the Breeders’ Cup, drawing top turf horses to compete for the lucrative purse and an automatic berth in the FanDuel Mile Presented by PDJF via the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series.
Month: September 2020
Pat Smullen Laid To Rest
In St Peter’s Church, which was bedecked with flowers from the garden at Moyglare Stud, Pat Smullen was laid to rest on Friday near his home in Rhode.
The family service, restricted in numbers because of Covid-19 protocols, was streamed via Zoom and was joined by 700 mourners from around the world, including many of the multiple champion jockey’s friends from the weighing-room.
Paying tribute to her husband during the service, Frances Crowley referred to the fact that his death came exactly a year after the Pat Smullen Champions Race, which helped to raise more than €2.5 million for Cancer Trials Ireland during Irish Champions Weekend.
“I think that symbolises exactly what it meant to him,” she said.
Smullen, 43, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018 and died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on Tuesday evening. As he was brought home to Co Offaly on Wednesday, the hearse passed by the Curragh, where the flags flew at half-mast at the racecourse which had been the scene of some his greatest triumphs, including two Irish Derby victories aboard Harzand (Ire) and Grey Swallow (Ire). Harzand’s saddle cloths from the Derby and Irish Derby were draped across his coffin.
In her composed address, which acknowledged the loss felt by her husband’s legion of family and friends, Crowley offered encouragement to others facing a similar struggle with illness.
She said, “I have a message to you from Pat: keep going, don’t lose heart, please don’t let this knock you back.”
Crowley’s moving tribute ended with her own message to her husband, “We know you did your best in everything you did, Pat. You always did your best. Always.”
The post Pat Smullen Laid To Rest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Antoinette Headlines Belmont Oaks
Godolphin’s Antoinette (Hard Spun) tops a five-horse field in this year’s renewal of the GI Belmont Oaks Saturday. Winner of an off-the-turf version of the Tepin S. last year, the bay was third in both the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21 and the Gardenia S. at Oaklawn May 1. Third in again in what is traditionally the local prep for this event, the GIII Wonder Again S. June 20, she completed the trifecta in the GI CCA Oaks July 18. Antoinette returned to the winner’s circle last time with a front-running victory in the Saratoga Oaks Aug. 16.
A pair of European invaders will take their shot at the likely favorite in Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}). Victorious in the G3 Prix Vanteaux in May, she was privately purchased by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables and was second in her first start for them in the G1 Prix Saint Alary June 14. Magic Attitude was fifth in her final European start in the G1 Prix de Diane July 5 for trainer Fabrice Chappet and was transferred to Arnaud Delacour. She receives Lasix in this first start for her new barn.
Winning two of her three starts as a juvenile in France last year, Neige Blanche was fourth in her sophomore bow Feb. 22 and was third in the Prix Caravelle May 11. She captured the G3 Prix Cleopatre June 6, after which she was privately purchased by these connections and sent stateside to Leonard Powell.
Rounding out the field are Setting the Mood (Lea), most recently a head second going 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga Aug. 26; and Key Biscayne (Brethren), who was third in the Saratoga Oaks.
The post Antoinette Headlines Belmont Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Canterbury’s 2020 Season Sees Record Off-Track Wagering; Average Race Handle Up 114 Percent
A racing season that was postponed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic concluded Thursday evening at Canterbury Park with the results leaving track officials pleased, considering the race meet was in jeopardy in April. The Shakopee, Minn. racetrack conducted an uninterrupted 53-day race meet that began on June 10, a month later and 12 days shorter than originally planned.
With capacity limited to 750 spectators, when in 2019 the track averaged 6,592 daily, and race days reduced by 20 percent, wagering on track declined 65 percent to $3.7 million. Off-track wagering from across the country however increased 115.6 percent to $64.7 million. Average handle per race, perhaps the best comparison under the circumstances, increased 114 percent due to a 174 percent increase in per race out of state handle.
“We are pleased with the results of the 2020 live racing season and our record all-sources handle,” Vice President of Racing Andrew Offerman said. “Although the substantial increase in off-track handle didn't fully offset our losses in admissions, food and beverage and on-track handle revenues, the increase in exposure of our racing product and the national acceptance of it were encouraging. These off-track gains helped us salvage a mostly successful season in the midst of a global pandemic.”
Canterbury officials made the decision to pivot from a traditional schedule that included weekends to a Monday through Thursday race week designed to capture national wagering dollars when facing less competition. The gamble paid off as total handle of $68,388,504 for 53 days far exceeded the 2018 record of $48,142,704 when 66 racing programs were conducted.
Jockey Francisco Arrieta won the final two stakes of the season with victories in the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile aboard 2-year-old filly Heart Full of Soul and the $50,000 Tom Metzen HBPA Sprint on King of the Court. Heart Full of Soul is trained by Mac Robertson and is owned by Hugh Robertson and Gregory Erwin. She defeated five colts and geldings, winning by two lengths and paying $7.00.
Robertino Diodoro trains King of the Court for owner Gary Kropp and Clayton and Rick Wiest. Arrieta and King of the Court tracked the pace, took control in upper stretch and held off a late challenge by Arcadia Calls to win by a neck. As the wagering favorite, the 5-year-old paid $5.40.
The leading Thoroughbred owner for the meet was Robert Lothenbach who won 32 races. Joel Berndt, whose primary owner is Lothenbach, won his first Canterbury training title with 45 wins. Ry Eikleberry was the leading thoroughbred jockey with 77 wins. This was his third riding title. The top quarter horse trainer was Jason Olmstead for the sixth consecutive season. He had 19 wins. Nik Goodwin won the quarter riding honors with 10 victories. Corey Wilmes was leading quarter horse owner with six wins.
Ready to Runaway, winner of four of five starts including the Lady Slipper Stakes, the Glitter Star Stakes and the Minnesota Distaff Sprint, was named Horse of the Meet. She is owned by John Mentz of Lakeville and is trained by Mac Robertson.
Canterbury Park's 2020 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:
- Horse of the Year – Ready to Runaway (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
- Sprinter – Ready to Runaway (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
- Older Filly or Mare – Ready to Runaway (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
- Older Horse – Drop of Golden Sun (owner: Rengstorf Racing LLC : trainer: Tony Rengstorf)
- Grass Horse – Tut's Revenge (owner: Claim To Fame Stable : trainer: Clinton Stuart)
- Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Vo Fantastic Aira (QH) (owner: Corey Wilmes : trainer: Ed Ross Hardy)
- Three-Year-Old Filly – Hotasapistol (owner: Gary and Brenda Bergsrud : trainer: Clinton Stuart)
- Two-Year-Old – Sneeky Diversion (owner: Lothenbach Stables, Inc : trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Claimer – Hotfoot (owner: Rocket Wrench Racing LLC : trainer: Karl Broberg)
- Quarter Horse – Vo Fantastic Aira (owner: Corey Wilmes : trainer: Ed Ross Hardy)
The post Canterbury’s 2020 Season Sees Record Off-Track Wagering; Average Race Handle Up 114 Percent appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
